Who Should I Start? Kaleb Johnson or Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Kaleb Johnson News
Tuesday, June 9, 5:49 AM
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson was a third-round pick in a 2025 NFL Draft billed for its running back talent, and while several players from his class were able to deliver promising rookie campaigns, Johnson's was one to forget. The most memorable moment of his first season was arguably a kickoff return blunder early in the year that gifted the Seahawks a touchdown and landed Johnson in Mike Tomlin's doghouse. With an entirely new coaching staff in Pittsburgh for 2026, Johnson will look to put a disappointing rookie season, in which he touched the ball fewer than 30 times on offense and averaged only 2.5 yards per carry, squarely behind him. However, the Steelers also replaced leading pass-catching back Kenneth Gainwell with the more well-rounded Rico Dowdle, forming a formidable pair of do-everything backs with fifth-year veteran Jaylen Warren and further obscuring Johnson's path to playing time. Still yet to turn 23 years old, Johnson remains a hold at least throughout training camp, but barring an injury ahead of him or an unexpected new home, RotoBaller's dynasty RB57 will need to be seriously looked at as a cut candidate only one year after coming off the board in the first round of many rookie drafts.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jacory Croskey-Merritt News
Monday, June 15, 6:30 PM
Washington Commanders second-year running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has missed some offseason work due to a soft-tissue injury, has the best chance to become the team's lead back in 2026, according to Zach Selby of Commanders.com. Croskey-Merritt, also known as Bill, has "quickness on the outside and has enough burst to run through creases at the line of scrimmage." The 25-year-old rushed for 805 yards in 2025, third in his draft class, and added eight touchdowns on 175 carries over 17 games (seven starts). JCM must still improve in pass protection, but he showed plenty of patience and decisiveness as a ball-carrier despite not being taken until the seventh round in the 2025 NFL draft. Croskey-Merritt was used sparingly as a pass-catcher as a rookie, hauling in nine passes on just 13 targets for 68 yards. Newcomer Rachaad White will most likely operate as Washington's primary pass-catching back, with Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols providing veteran depth. Ball security was another issue for JCM as a rookie, and if those issues resurface in Year 2, he could quickly lose touches to White, Ford, and McNichols. Fantasy managers should consider Croskey-Merritt as an RB3/4 with upside if he proves himself more in passing situations.
Kaleb Johnson vs. Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Still trying to decide between Johnson and Croskey-Merritt? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kaleb Johnson is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Jacory Croskey-Merritt is projected to score 0.0 points.
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